Month: January 2020

Hiring a Contractor for a Kitchen Renovation

Kitchen renovations are a common project done to increase the value of a home. Not only that, but the kitchen can be considered the house’s center. Making sure the kitchen is properly functional for your family or for resale is important for any home. It can, however, be a large and stressful project. With so many things that could go wrong or questions you may not have the answers to, one can look to the guidance of a contractor.

NWI Contracting in Vancouver shares some ways that a general contractor can help with your major kitchen renovation:

The planning process

The first step before any project is completed in the planning stage. Planning out the materials you need, the plan of what the space will look like, paint colors, permits, and many other features will keep the project on track. Following a plan throughout will keep both you and the contractor on the same page. It’s important that both parties understand what will happen. NWI will walk you through every step of the renovation. They’ll make sure you’re completely informed throughout the entire process. The better the plan, the better the build.

The design process

Kitchen renovations are large, costly, and incredibly stressful. A contractor can assist you through your endeavors, and help you make these choices. They may relay the costs of different materials, for example which countertop is most cost-effective or long-lasting. They also will help guide you on which materials may give your home more value or functionality.

The permit process

Dealing with permits when doing home projects can be confusing and frustrating. If as a part of your renovation you wish to take out walls, adding or retrofitting electrical or plumbing systems, permits may be necessary. NWI Contractors will help ensure that everything is up to the current building codes. This will give you one less worry for your kitchen renovation.

The construction process

Once the work begins, a lot of work is put into hiring, scheduling and managing trades and services that will work on your kitchen renovation. Electricians, plumbers, drywall contractors, countertop installers, cabinet installers, and painters will all need to be scheduled, and at the right time in the process. If one of the trades has an issue, they need to bring it to the attention of a project manager. This is something a general contractor will do for you, taking a huge amount of stress off your shoulders.

Major Renovations in Vancouver

NWI Contracting is a team of specialists that provide high quality renovations and customer service. They are a Vancouver based firm that believes in a personal approach to your unique project, for the success of a long-lasting client relationship, and a job well done. They have a team of qualified staff that have worked on major renovations many times, and are capable in helping clients get over any hurdles that a renovation may throw at them.

Need help? Check out NWI Contracting today!

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RenovationFind Certified is a symbol of integrity held by only the most trustworthy companies in home improvement, service, maintenance.  It increases consumer confidence in your business, giving you an edge over your competition while validating you as the best.
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This post first appeared on https://blog.renovationfind.com

Ways to customize your bathroom

Nicons Enterprises - General Contractor and Renovator

During home renovations or while building a custom home, it’s important to have fun with it, and let your creativity run wild. When it comes to your bathroom, there can be so many possibilities to make beautiful and completely your own. From paint colours, to tiling designs, to adding other features to customize the space, there is a multitude of things you can do. If you’re building a new home, or embarking on a major renovation, here are some bathroom design ideas that you can customize to be your own, from Nicons Enterprises Ltd. in Vancouver.

Painting

One of the first things to decide in this process is the colour of the walls. Something you can do is simply paint all the walls one solid colour. If you are looking to add a pop of colour or keep the room simple and sleek, this can be the route to go. However, if you are looking to change things up, you could use more than one colour, such as painting some walls one colour and the rest another. Another thing you could do if painting isn’t your cup of tea is wallpaper. Wallpaper is back on trends and unique patterns can add texture to a space, and give the room some added character.

Flooring

For bathroom flooring, it’s probably common to assume that tiling is the default. There are so many different things you can do with tiles, as they vary in size, shape, colour, and texture. You can also arrange them in different patterns to differentiate your bathroom space from others. Tiling, however, doesn’t need to be your only option. If you are looking for a less expensive flooring choice, linoleum or vinyl could also be considered, as they are water-resistant, and also come in a variety of different looks.

Added features

The customization process doesn’t have to be limited to the walls and floors. There are other things you can change everywhere in the room. You could add different tiling patterns in the shower or a new shower head to suit your needs. You could replace the faucets and lighting to give the room a new feel or different vibe from what it previously was. On top of this, you can add rugs, plants, paintings, and other character pieces to change up the room. It’s ultimately up to you and the new and unique bathroom you want to create, so don’t be afraid to think outside the box!

Custom Renovations in Vancouver

Their goal at Nicons Enterprises Ltd. is to establish a win-win relationship with their clients. They believe that we are succeeding only if their clients are being happy. From the first quote appointment to the finished project, they aim to provide the best experience for you. They combine expertise, quality, speed, and affordability and that is how they get satisfied and returning clients.

For more information, visit Nicons Enterprises Ltd. today!

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RenovationFind Certified is a symbol of integrity held by only the most trustworthy companies in home improvement, service, maintenance.  It increases consumer confidence in your business, giving you an edge over your competition while validating you as the best.
More than an online directory, we are Western Canada’s fastest growing marketing platform for promoting and connecting the best trades, service, and home improvement companies to homeowners.

This post first appeared on https://blog.renovationfind.com

‘First of Its Kind’ Project Using Hydrogen to Tackle Carbon Emissions in Homes Launches

The first pilot project in the UK to inject zero carbon hydrogen into a gas network to heat homes is now fully operational. 

HyDeploy is a concept designed by Keele University, Staffordshire, to help cut carbon emissions in homes, enabling the UK to meet its climate change obligations and ensure more energy efficient homes are developed. 

The £7m project, reported to be the first of its kind, could “pave the way to saving six million tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions across the country every year,” according to Keele University. 

HyDeploy will inject up to 20% (by volume) of hydrogen into Keele University’s existing natural gas network. This will feed 100 homes and 30 faculty buildings, and represents the highest hydrogen blend in Europe.

Hydrogen, when burned, creates heat without carbon dioxide. And with 83% of homes using gas for heat, the 20% volume blend means that homeowners can continue to use their gas supply as normal without the need to change their gas appliances. All the while homeowners will be cutting carbon emissions. 

Cutting Carbon: The Mission

The construction industry has been challenged to slash its carbon emissions and build more environmentally-friendly homes, and the carbon dioxide produced in the building of a home has a bearing on how green it is. 

Self builders, in particular, are discovering that building an eco home does not have to be prohibitively expensive, and making a home more sustainable and energy efficient can be associated with lower running costs.

(MORE: Self Build: The Complete Guide)

The HyDeploy project reports that a hypothetical rollout of the 20% hydrogen blend was rolled out across the UK it could save around six million tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions each year. This is the equivalent of taking 2.5 millions cars off the road. 

Professor Mark Ormerod, deputy vice chancellor and provost at Keele University, said: “Sustainability and low carbon energy is a key overarching institutional priority for Keele University, and we are delighted to be a key partner in HyDeploy.

“HyDeploy is a pioneering landmark national demonstration project, using our campus as a genuine ‘living laboratory’ for low carbon and energy efficient technologies. HyDeploy has the potential to be hugely impactful and lead to a step change in the reduction of carbon emissions associated with heat.”  

This post first appeared on https://www.homebuilding.co.uk

Renovation Nightmares – What Not To Do When Renovating

Renovating your home is a fun and exciting experience — especially if you have a decent sized budget and a team to help you. But, it can be easy to get carried away in the process and make choices that seemed reasonable at the moment, but that you’ll regret later. Some of the most common renovation mistakes are overspending, forgetting storage space, and following trends destined to become unpopular in just a few years’ time. Here’s how to avoid them.

Overspend

When remodeling or renovating, it can be easy to go down a rabbit trail and lose track of your initial goals. You may find yourself tens of thousands of dollars over budget with updates you hadn’t originally planned on.

To avoid this, focus on projects that add long-term utility to your home and increase its value. These may include adding additional storage (which we’ll discuss below), upgrading your kitchen, replacing flooring (like new carpet or fixing broken tile), or updating your bathroom. These projects provide immediate return on investment by both increasing your home’s value and providing a more enjoyable living space.

Before you start your renovation, create a list of all the items you will address in the renovation. Then, craft a reasonable budget and — because projects often cost more than anticipated — pad in an extra 20% just in case you need to deal with any surprises. Set a realistic timeline for completing the work — this helps save you money by ensuring the process runs smoothly, especially if you’re hiring out the work or displaced to a hotel while renovations are being completed.

It may surprise you how much low-cost upgrades can make a major impact on the overall look or feel of your home. For example, a new coat of bright, neutral paint on a wall in a dark area of your home can help freshen things up and make your home more welcoming. A couple hundred dollars on new cabinet pulls and knobs or a new sink (and maybe new countertops if you have the budget) can bring your kitchen into the 21st century.

Forget storage space

Storage (or lack of it) can be a deal breaker for many home buyers. Not to mention, if you’re planning on staying in your home, it’s great to have a place to put all your stuff. If you have an older home, it may not have been originally built with much storage space. But now that people tend to own more things in general, don’t overlook adding extra storage when renovating your home.

Some ways to expand your space without a full-on addition include expanding a closet, adding a shed to the yard, building a garage, finishing a basement, or including more drawers and cabinets in your existing bathroom or kitchen remodel. These options add value to your home without increasing its footprint and can pay off big.

Follow trends

Shag carpet. Wood paneling. Wallpaper borders. These past trends are cringeworthy, but at the time were all the rage. If you have these features in your home, consider slowly phasing them out. These trends can really date your home and turn off potential buyers who may feel overwhelmed by their growing list of projects — which would then include replacing flooring and redoing walls immediately upon move-in.

If you want to be trendy with your renovations, stick with investing in modern furniture and decor, rather than countertops, walls, or flooring, which are much more difficult and costly to swap out. The more bizarre or unique the trend, the more likely it is to date your home in the near future. On the contrary, good design lasts forever.

A simple, timeless, and neutral living room can be brought to life with modern, trendy couches, a beautiful chandelier, or  a pop of color through throw pillows or artwork on the wall. Focusing your creative flair on your furnishings will save you the headache of having to make expensive updates to walls or flooring later.

Author Bio: Ben Mizes is the Co-Founder and CEO of Clever Real Estate, a free online service that connects home buyers and sellers with real estate agents. Ben is also an active real estate investor with 22 units in St. Louis and a licensed real estate agent in the State of Missouri.

This post first appeared on https://blog.renovationfind.com

How to Gauge Gutters Before You Buy

Gutters are an important investment for any home. If your old ones are constantly leaking or draining improperly, it might be time to upgrade – but which gutters should you choose? Specifically, what size and type of gutter is best for your home?

Certain things will depend on the needs of your home. A general handyman services company can help give you a better idea of what gutters would work best for your home. When shopping for gutters, there’s a few things to keep in mind when judging the thickness or gauge of the gutters.


Choosing the Best Gutter Materials for Your Home


Aluminum Gutters

Aluminum is one of the most popular gutter options available due to its durability and affordability. This material is incredibly resistant to rust and corrosion, and can withstand extreme heat and cold. Aluminum gutters come in a variety of gauges, but for homes in areas that experience heavy snow, you may want to choose a heavier gauge aluminum of .032 for maximum strength.

Average Cost: $3 – $9 per foot
Lifespan: Around 20 years
Pros: Highly durable, relatively affordable, available in many colors, resists rusting, fading and corrosion.
Cons: Can dent somewhat easily.

Copper Gutters

Copper gutters are a beautiful, highly durable option that can add a distinct pop of color to any home. Copper is a timeless material that has been used on homes for centuries. One thing to consider is that copper gutters will oxidize and turn green over time. While some homeowners love this look and even look for ways to speed up the oxidation process, just know that it will take some maintenance to prevent this if you’re not a fan – a local handyman can help you keep your copper gutters looking shiny year-round.

Average Cost: $17 – $20 per foot
Lifespan: 50 years or more
Pros: Extremely durable, distinct look can increase curb appeal.
Cons: Much more expensive than other gutter options, must be installed with copper fasteners, requires maintenance to prevent copper oxidation.

Vinyl Gutters

One of the least-expensive gutter materials available, vinyl gutters are an ideal budget-friendly option and are fairly easy to install with the help of a general handyman. However, they can be less durable than their copper or aluminum counterparts, and may melt, warp or break in extreme weather or under heavy snow loads. For this reason, vinyl gutters are best suited for homes in climates with moderate to mild seasonal highs with little winter precipitation.

Average Cost: $3 – $5 per foot
Lifespan: 10 – 20 years, depending on the severity of weather in region
Pros: Affordable, simple to install, resists rusting, fading and corrosion.
Cons: Prone to melting in intense heat or cracking in extreme cold; can bend or sag under heavy snow or over time; limited color options available.


Choosing a Gutter Style


There are three widely popular gutter styles for homes: K-style, half-round, square and fascia gutters.

K-style gutters are the most popular gutter style option. In addition to looking nice on most contemporary homes, K-style gutters can handle a lot of drainage at once, and can drain twice as much water as half-round gutters. Aluminum K-style gutters are the most popular material-style combination.

Half-round gutters are a stylish choice for older, historic-looking homes. While their design makes them excellent at collecting water and less prone to corrosion or clogs, half-round gutters tend to be a little pricier than other style options.

Fascia gutters, or eaves gutters, combine your gutter system with your home’s outer fascia board. Fascia gutters tend to be larger than other gutter styles, making them ideal at collecting large amounts of rainwater from homes in climates like those found in California or Oregon.

Need help installing your gutters? Call an expert handyman to do it right

If you need new gutters ASAP, Handyman Connection can connect you to a local craftsman who can help you select and install the best gutters for your home. Our team is dedicated to providing the high-quality workmanship your home deserves. To get expert handyman services near you, call 1-800-88-HANDY today.

The post How to Gauge Gutters Before You Buy appeared first on Handyman Connection.

Life on the River: A Contemporary Self Build with Stunning Views

It isn’t hard to see what attracted Nigel and Alison Maddocks to the Worcestershire plot that is now occupied by their spectacular new home.

With the River Avon meandering along the bottom of their garden, a selection of balconies from which to enjoy spotting the local wildlife and a G&T deck to boot, their new home is something of a tranquil haven for the couple. But the build was not without its complications.

As keen boaters, Nigel and Alison had been looking for a plot close to the water. The site already had planning permission in place for a traditional style house, but the couple were keen for something more modern.

A Difficult Site

“We had some idea of the kind of house that we wanted and liked the idea of SIPs [structural insulated panels] as a construction method,” explains Nigel. “Then we met architect Allan Corfield and SIPs were kind of his bag.

“Working with Allan, we changed the design for the house completely,” he continues. “We wanted an upside down layout to make the most of the views and we were keen on an open-plan arrangement internally. I liked the precision and speed of SIPs —  plus they work well with large open-plan spaces.”

Project Notes

  • Homeowners: Nigel and Alison Maddocks
  • Project: Contemporary self-build
  • Build Timeline: Apr 2016 – Dec 2017
  • Size: 262m²
  • Plot Cost: £219,000 (April 2014)
  • Build Cost: £750,000
  • Value: Unknown

“From the initial consultation with Alison and Nigel it was clear that they had strong ideas and a detailed brief for this challenging site,” adds Allan Corfield. “Two of the key requirements were to maximise the river views and to have all of the main living spaces on the upper floor. These spaces were complemented by the vaulted double roof space, made possible by the SIPS construction.”

The new plans were granted planning permission with no difficulties, something Nigel attributes to the fact that there is a broad range of architectural styles on the road their new home resides on. Nigel took on the project management of the build, despite the fact that he and Alison were still living in Derby at the time and working full time.

“We knew this was going to be a difficult site,” says Nigel. “It was heavily sloping and totally overgrown. In fact we struggled to find a groundworker who could cope with the site. In the end, Allan came up with a contact — a company based in Scotland. They came down and stayed in the local village hotel.”

In order to level the site and prepare it for the new house, extensive areas required sheet piles to be inserted into the ground. “In some ways the slope helped, as it informed the design and made it possible to fit in a two storey home, where only a single storey was allowed from the road,” explains Allan.

“However it did cause significant issues (and added costs) during construction, especially at the initial groundworks stage. Once the various retaining walls and beam and block floor was installed, it created level working areas. Choosing an off-site construction method such as SIPs reduced on site time quite dramatically.”

“There are retaining walls all over the place,” says Nigel. “Four metres of sheet piling runs along the river frontage, they have been put in at the road side too. There was a period of time when the entire site was sliding towards the river — it was pretty scary stuff! Luckily our groundworkers were really skilled at what they do.”

Around half the width of the road frontage was temporarily held up with sheet piles, before a five metre retaining wall was constructed, built using Tobermore Secura Grand blocks, the same material that was used to build the retaining wall at the rear of the house. “Around twenty lorry loads of concrete went in behind that wall,” recalls Nigel.

Designing the Exterior

With site preparation complete, the shell of the house was constructed using SIPs. These panels are made up of an insulating foam core sandwiched between two structural facings, usually oriented strand board. Once the shell was up, the construction company took on the rest of the work, with various specialists organised by Nigel.

Externally, the striking house is clad in a combination of white CorkSol render, which was sprayed on, and brick. Huge areas of the rear elevation are made up of full-height glazing and sliding doors that open out to balconies, a feature that makes the very most of the setting of the house.

“The rear of the house is south facing,” explains Nigel. “From the balconies we get the sun in the morning and the last sun of the day.

“We had been used to living in old, cold houses before this,” he adds. “Being able to build in some thermal efficiency was a draw of self build. We get lots of solar gain from the reflection of the sun off the water so that the house is never cold, yet awnings fitted over the windows mean it never overheats either.”

The house is heated by underfloor heating on the ground floor, while the first floor has no heating at all.

“Alison and Nigel were conscious of designing a large home that wouldn’t cost a lot to heat,” says Allan. “This is why we adopted the fabric first approach, focusing on creating an airtight, highly insulated shell with renewable heating and cooling.” The front elevation of the house has been left deliberately understated in comparison to the rear — “it suits our personalities,” explains Nigel.

A rendered section of the house, named ‘the Undercroft’ by Nigel and Alison, sits to one side of the brick-clad section. In response to the sloping site, the Undercroft was created in order to build up to drive level from the rear, with the garage sitting above. Internally, this space is accessed from the bedroom down several steps.

“We could have just filled the space with rubble,” explains Nigel, “but we felt we would rather use it as a room, so now we have this big space, used for everything from office meetings to parties.”

An Upside-down Layout

Internally the house is accessed through a hallway, with a dramatic open stairwell leading to the lower ground floor to one side. The living spaces are bright and open, with the sitting area at the heart of the layout, looking out over the river beyond.

On the lower floor, three large bedrooms all open out to the rear, with their own balconies providing stunning spaces from which to take in the surroundings — Nigel and Alison are regularly treated to visits from a kingfisher to their balcony while sitting in bed in the morning.

“This project was extraordinarily stressful,” says Nigel. “The groundworks in particular took longer and were more expensive than we had anticipated — thankfully nothing fazed our groundworkers. Most of the solutions for the problems we encountered with the house involved more concrete!

“However, while we might never want to build again, we would never have ended up with a house like this otherwise and we now have somewhere we will never want to move from.”

This post first appeared on https://www.homebuilding.co.uk

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